I’m not much of a video game player anymore. Every 4 or 5 years though I get the urge to play video games again. The last time was when guitar hero was super popular to show how infrequently this happens. So, because of this, I don’t want to get a whole new expensive system that won’t get used much. So I was thinking about maybe a 3DS. It’s small, it’s not too expensive, it seems like it has a lot of good games. If my kid wanted to play some video games I can easily share it (she’s 7). I don’t particularly like the casual games you play on a phone. So this seems like a good way to go but I honestly don’t know much about them. Like I said, I only pay attention every half decade. Maybe there is a better option for someone like me.
What are the thoughts of the gamers here? Also, what would be some good games to keep me busy a while if I went with, whatever the consensus seems to be.
The 3DS has an absurdly large library of games. Wikipedia lists 912, though 324 of them are download only. That’s still a lot of games.
If you want to go a little older school, you could pick up a DS instead - that won’t play you newer 3DS games but it will play any GBA game you get your hands on.
Either way, you’ll have enough games to last you a long time. They’re both solid handhelds with a wide variety of choices.
The 3DS is a great system, with dozens of excellent games. You also have the entire DS library available, with games that can often be found very cheaply. If you post the game genres you’re interested in, I’m sure people will have plenty of suggestions. I’ll quickly put in recommendations for Elite Beat Agents and Ghost Trick, as I always do in these threads.
You basically have three form factors to choose from: 3DS / 3DSXL (here), or 2DS (here). Note that those first two are the New 3DS, which is a newer revision with improved 3D, better specs, and a new tiny analog “nub”.
One other thing to be aware of is that Nintendo is expected to announce the details of their upcoming NX system sometime soon, for release next year. I believe the current rumor is that it’s a new portable system that also docks to act as a home console to a TV. You might consider waiting until those details are announced.
That’s the kind of thing that’s really good to know. When you say soon do you mean weeks soon or months soon?
As far as game types I like old school platformers and puzzle type story games (not sure what the name of that genre is). I was thinking of getting a Zelda game and Mario Cart, but beyond that know nothing about what is out. I don’t care much for fighting games or FPS.
See this is what made me pause. I was looking up info on the 3ds and found an article (from pc magazine?) saying handhelds were dead and that phones were the future. It made me worried I was going to buy the video game equivalent of a discman in 2003.
I haven’t tried an emulator, didn’t even know that was an option.
It’s hard to know with Nintendo, but the rumored release is March 2017, so details would be expected to come out at least by the end of the year.
Also, it’s more than a rumor that it’s a handheld system with detachable controllers. There are a lot of design patents for one thing, and there are other companies that have basically confirmed it. It’s only Nintendo who is silent.
I do note a lack of any claims of (3)DS backwards compatibility, which would be a big problem with getting the device at launch. Sure, the WiiU Zelda game is supposed to be on it, but it’s not like the old Zeldas. It’s more like Zelda+Morrowwind.
If it has WiiU backwards compatibility, as often rumored, you’d get Skyward Sword and New Super Mario Bros U. And there’s no way it won’t have the Virtual Console–the question is how limited it will be.
It’s not died down yet, and it’s just not really easy to do action games with touch screen buttons. And experiments with other kinds of controls (like Phantom Hourglass) don’t seem to have gone all that well.
If you want old school action games as you describe, I doubt mobile will be the direction you will want to go. Not unless you buy a controller addon.
to be honest consoles themselves are dying … supposedly by the next gen console makers will only be making consoles for the north and south American and possibly European markets …
its one reason why the ps4 was designed by an American (the infamous wunderkind mark cerny) for American auidences
I don’t know that action games are my bag. But maybe. Honestly I’m not sure what I like because the last time I went through a console video game phase I was playing GTA Vice City. It’s been a while. I played a few pc games since then and a little Wii too but Super Mario Brothers seems more my speed at the moment. That and I dig Zelda which I was told DS did well.
It could totally be that this isn’t the right platform for me though.
Yeah a controller add on would probably be best for retro gaming on your phone/tablet.
Alternatively, if you can find a v1 shield? I hear it’s emulation heaven. Short of emulation though, again I know a lot of people happy with their 3DS.
If you like puzzle/story games, you can look at the Professor Layton series and the Phoenix Wright - Ace Attorney series. Both are pretty heavy on the story side of things. And of course then there’s the Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney crossover game :). And Ghost Trick probably fits in this category too.
There’s also the Zero Escape trilogy: 999, Virtue’s Last Reward, and Zero Time Dilemma. This is one of my favorite series of all time, but they are a very particular kind of game. They do some really interesting things with the narrative that are really only possible inside a game.
If you’re not too interested in the XL screen or the 3D, your best option might be the 2DS + Mario Kart bundle. It’s a pretty good deal for $80.
If you like JRPG games (Final Fantasy and the like), I’ve only heard good things about Bravely Default. Including from my own son who regarded the game with skepticism when he got it for Christmas but then played the heck out of. (Review)
Bravely Default was depressingly average at best. It starts out strong, which is why it got a bunch of good reviews, and then goes steadily downhill. By the end I wasn’t even sure why I was playing it, because I just didn’t care what happened. YMMV.
That said, Fire Emblem: Awakening (the LAST Fire Emblem game, not the ‘current’ one) was PHENOMENAL. Practically worth getting a 3DS for all by itself.
3Ds is a really solid choice still. Nintendo’s library of stuff for it contains a bunch of games you cannot and will not be able to get anywhere else, barring, possibly, pirating and emulation. You certainly won’t be able to play Kid Icarus Uprising, Fire Emblem Awakening, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, or any of the Ace Attorney games on your phone anytime soon. The library of games that don’t exist anywhere else is enormous, and there’s no way you’re going to find yourself saying “Geez, I bought a handheld but I have nothing to play on it.”
And I can download these games or store them on a cloud somewhere or do I need to keep track of physical cartridges still. (I know, I don’t know anything). Also, the whole indy game thing sounds neat. How do I find out more about that?
The more I read the more I am thinking I will get one. I would do the 2D but I would rather have the clamshell case. I am just hard enough on my electronics that I worry I would destroy an open faced hand held. That may sound silly but I know me.
Last silly question. My seven year old daughter is starting to want to play video games (all the cool kids at school play video games). I would like to play some with her so it isn’t a solo activity. Are there games where we can play together using the single handheld and pass it back and forth? Or are we looking at getting a second device/getting a different device if we want to go that way?
There may be a few, but if you want to play vidja games with your daughter (and I think this is a great activity), you’re going to want to get either a second handheld or a console. There are approximately two million games in the LEGO franchise that are great fun for all ages, and I’m pretty sure they exist on all platforms.
Most stuff is available digitally through Nintendo’s eShop, but they’re still pretty behind the times on a lot of that stuff. Your purchases are still tied to your console, for example. But they’re improving that stuff as time goes by.
My 7 and 5 year olds got 2DSes from grandma for Christmas, and they’ve been great. Most of the multiplayer stuff is designed for multiple systems rather than pass and play, at least as far as I’ve seen. Physical carts are good for our situation, so we can all use a single cart.
It kinda depends. Most stuff can be downloaded from their eShop, but the device doesn’t come with that much internal storage, so you’ll want to pick up a 64GB SDCard too if you want to go this route.
Honestly, I’m not sure about this one.
Ironically, one of the selling points of the 2DS is that it’s HARDER to break because people (well, kids, mostly) kept breaking the hinges on the 3DS.
I’m not aware of any; That doesn’t mean they don’t exist, but I agree with Johnny Bravo on this one.
Really? Because I took one look at it and said “no screen protection for travel? Yeah I’ll destroy that.” I am death to fragile electronic hardware. I keep my phone in the most protective case possible and I still broke the screen.